Natural Gas: Growing Market for U.S. ngas

[dan_s]

U.S. Ready to Ship More Gas to Middle East. Bloomberg.
U.S. natural gas exports could find buyers in the oil-rich Persian Gulf as countries there look to meet surging demand. Growing U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas could be an additional source of gas supply to the region, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and U.A.E. Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said Wednesday at a news conference in Abu Dhabi. Jordan, the U.A.E. and Egypt have been buyers of LNG from the Sabine Pass complex in the U.S. the past two years, according to Bloomberg vessel tracking, IHS Markit Ltd. and Genscape. “We want to be in the mix of LNG suppliers for the Mideast,” Perry said at the news conference. “Creating a relationship, having these conversations is good, it gives the U.A.E. some options.” The U.S. offered gas to Saudi Arabia, he said.

Cheniere Boosts LNG Tanker Fleet Amid Asian Demand Boom. Reuters.
U.S. LNG producer Cheniere Energy Inc. (AMEX: LNG) has expanded its shipping fleet with a flurry of spot vessel charters to keep up with Asian winter demand growth as spot prices hit three-year highs, market sources said. Cheniere's Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana pumped out 22 cargoes last month and more are expected as it ramps up its fourth production unit, or train, with more than half of all November volumes sold to China, Japan or South Korea, according to ship-tracking data. An 82% surge in Asian spot LNG prices this year, driven by robust Chinese demand, rising oil and coal prices and nuclear supply shortfalls in South Korea and Taiwan, has left producers chasing to lock in sales. The world's biggest exporter, Qatar, entirely sold out of flexible winter LNG supply following a frenetic period of deal-making with term buyers in China and South Korea. Cheniere, which is still bringing new production to market, has chartered seven additional LNG carriers on spot markets as firm demand stretches its existing fleet, increasingly tied up in long-haul voyages, trade and shipping sources said.

Cheniere marketing unit signs sales deal with Austria's OMV. Platts. Cheniere Energy's marketing unit has secured a multi-year sales deal with the trading arm of Austrian energy company OMV to deliver LNG cargoes to Europe, Cheniere said Wednesday. Europe and Asia are key markets for Cheniere as it adds liquefaction units, or trains, at its Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana and works to complete construction at its Corpus Christi, Texas, export facility. OMV produces and markets oil and natural gas. It also is involved in petrochemicals and refining. According to the company's website, OMV operates a gas pipeline network in Austria and gas storage facilities in Austria and Germany. Meanwhile, another Gulf Coast export project under development is nearing final investment decision.

[k1f]

It's worth noting that there are some major gas discoveries in the middle east,
including the major finds in offshore Israel and Egypt:

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/busi ... .html?_r=0

[dan_s]

Which is why it is remarkable that the U.S. is currently shipping LNG to the Middle East.

Keep in mind that "discoveries" turn into development projects much slower in the Middle East than in the U.S.